I AM grateful to the Leader of the Council for his response to my letter of February 18 published on February 23.

It's clearly defensive tone persuades me that I, and the many people who have expressed their support for my view, are 'winning the argument'.

Whether we win the 'battle' to save Cheadle Square for posterity depends on the response of the people of Bolton and their elected representatives to the 'selling off' on this vital piece of Bolton heritage. So I urge everyone who feels strongly about this issue to contact either the Bolton News, The Director of Environment or their local Councillor.

Cllr Morris' letter fails to answer my key questions. Why are we proposing to build on Cheadle Square in the first place? What is going to happen on the bus station site? And why can't the student village go on the bus station site (as part of what we presume to be a larger University development)? NB The £4.5m market refurbishment has nothing to do with this issue.

What doesn't seem to have got through is the point that the open vista of the Crescent has been protected for over 80 years and is a critical element in our fast-disappearing town centre heritage. In fact the Council has a statutory duty to preserve the 'context' of this listed building.

As someone with an urban design qualification, I have to say that no amount of re-design of the 'artist's impression' will retain the openness of the view of the Crescent and Arches. The suggestion that an archway through the student block will do this is patently inadequate and the introduction of a student quadrangle behind it makes you wonder whether general public access will be retained through to the Town Hall Square.

The people of Bolton do indeed welcome the proposed £40m investment in the University and the extra vitality it will bring to the town, but why does the student accommodation have to be in Cheadle Square — a considerable way from the existing campus? There is already apparently a 'memorandum of understanding' in place with the University to develop Cheadle Square. Why weren't the people of Bolton consulted on this? Offers of 'public consultation' at the planning application stage are a 'token gesture', the 'die will be cast' by then. We need to persuade the Council and University that this site is inappropriate at this early stage so that other 'avenues' can be explored. It is up to us. Imagine the reaction of the people of Bath if the Council decided to build in front of their Royal Crescent!

Stuart Whittle

Albert Road West

Bolton